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India
and US assert that there can be no tolerance to terrorism safe havens. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Defence
Secretary James Mattis hold talks in New Delhi; Mattis also meets Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.

Top Hizbul terrorist Abdul Qayoom Najar killed in gunfight near
LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

Defence
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said, cooperation in the defence sector
between India and the US has grown significantly in recent years and has
emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership. Addressing a joint press
conference with visiting US Secretary of Defence James Mattis
after holding delegation level talks in New Delhi, Ms Sitharaman said, the US
is now a leading supplier of the state-of-the-art defence equipment to India.
She appreciated James Mattis' willingness to share further cutting-edge
platforms which would enhance India's defence preparedness to meet current and
emerging threats.

"I reiterated India's
deep interest in enhancing defence manufacturing in India under Prime Minister
Modi's Make in India initiative. I thank Secretary Mattis for his supportive
position in this regard and look forward to working closely with him to realize
joint projects."

Ms Sitharaman said, during the talks, the situation in
the neighbourhood and growing menace of cross-border terrorism were discussed
in depth.

"We also exchanged
views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The situation in
our neighbourhood and the growing menace of cross-border terrorism were
discussed in depth. There is growing convergence in the approaches of both our
countries on this issue. We both recognize the importance of holding those who
use terrorism as an instrument of state policy to account and to dismantle the
infrastructure that supports terrorism."

The
Defence Minister further said, they discussed the ways tostrengthen their cooperation as well as with
the Government of Afghanistan in pursuit of common objective of a peaceful,
democratic, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Both sides also discussed the
issues relating to maritime security in the Indian Ocean and the broader Asia-Pacific
Region as well as regional connectivity issues. She said, India supports the
freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded lawful commerce. She said that
disputes should be resolved through peaceful means and in accordance with the
universally recognized principles of international law.

US Defence Secretary James Mattis said, India and the
US have suffered due to the menace of terrorism and they have recognised its
global threat. He said, a high degree of team work is needed to wipe out the
menace. He said there can beno
tolerance to terrorism safe havens. He also welcomed India's contribution in
war-torn Afghanistan. Mr Mattis appreciated India's efforts to put pressure on
North Korea. He said his country will continue to maintain diplomatic and
economic pressure on North Korea. He also appreciated India's leadership in
Indian ocean.

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The
US Secretary of Defence called on Prime MinisterNarendra Modi in New Delhi this afternoon.
Secretary Mattis briefed the Prime Minister on the progress in advancing the
bilateral agenda and implementing the decisions taken during Mr. Modi's visit
to the United States in June this year. The Prime Minister recalled his
wide-ranging, candid, and fruitful discussions with President Trump during that
visit. Both sides had reaffirmed their resolve to further develop their strong
strategic partnership.

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In
Jammu & Kashmir, one of the longest surviving top terrorist Abdul Qayoom
Najar was killed in a gunfight near the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla
district today. Security officials said Qayoom was killed in a gunfight near
Zorawar post of Lachipora Uri in the district. Najar was a resident of Sopore
who carried 10 lakh rupees bounty on his head.

A
Police spokesman said the slain terroristwas returning to Kashmir from Pakistan to take command of
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen He said Qayoom Najar had been active since 1999.

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Still with Jammu and Kashmir, Army today foiled
Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT)bid
to push around half a dozen armed militants in Keran sector of Kupwara
district.

Army sources told AIR that intruders tried to attack
army post but Army repulsed the attack. More details are awaited.

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President
Ram Nath Kovind has batted for more participation of women in scientific research,
saying it will bring gender parity in the sector. Addressing CSIR foundation
day in New Delhi today, he said, in the past seven decades, India as a society
and CSIR as a body have made enormous progress but participation of women is
meager. He said, the Government has to take accelerated steps to address the
issue. The President said, if the disparity is not addressed, India's
scientific achievements will be less than perfect. He said, Science and
technology have an important role in nation building.

The true test of scientific
research lay in its ability to help the society to leapfrog the social sector
gaps in health and hygiene, sanitation, education, agriculture and "make
us a middle-income country in one human life".

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Banaras
Hindu University Vice-Chancellor, G. C Tripathi today said an inquiry committee
headed by a retired Allahabad High Court judge V.K. Dixit
has been set up to probe the violencein
the campus. Talking to media in New Delhi, Mr. Tripathi said, action will be
taken on the basis of recommendations of thecommittee.

Meanwhile, Varanasi Commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokaran
has submitted his report to the government this evening about the BHU
incidents. Our correspondent says the report has heldBHU authorities responsible for not handling
the situation with sensitivity and not taking proper action on the complaint of
eve teasing lodged by a girl student.

National
Human Rights Commission has issued notices to UP government and the
Vice-Chancellor over reported inaction of the University on a complaint of
eve-teasing and police action against agitating students. It has sought
detailed reports from UP Chief Secretary, DGP and the BHU VC within four weeks.

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Tripura government has decided to form a special
investigation team (SIT) to probe into the murder case of journalist Shantanu
Bhowmik. State Finance and Information Minister Bhanulal Saha said the decision
was taken today in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. He
said the cabinet also approved 10 lakh rupees as relief to the bereaved family
of Shantanu Bhowmik.

Shantanu was killed by unknown miscreants while
covering a road blockade agitation near Agartala on 20th of this month.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked young IAS
officers to focus on subjects like GST implementation and boosting digital
transactions, especially via BHIM App. Mr Modi was addressing valedictory
session of Assistant Secretaries of 2015 batch of IAS in New Delhi today. He
urged all officers to speed up adoption of Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in
their respective departments as it would eliminate middlemen and result in
savings for the government.

Giving examples of Open Defecation Free targets and
rural electrification, the Prime Minister urged the officers to work towards
100 per cent achievement of targets.

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that more than 70
thousand missing children have been rescued in different parts of the country
under Operation Smile. Addressing a National Conference on Child Labour in New
Delhi today, Mr Singh said, Operation Smile was first launched by the Home
Ministry in January 2015 to rescue and rehabilitate missing children.

On the occasion, the Home Minister launched
"PENCIL" - Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour. He
said people should take a pledge to fight the menace.

Our correspondent reports that "PENCIL",
which is a web portal, will be used as an effective enforcement tool for no
child labour. Departments and Ministries at the Centre and in states will
register themselves on the portal for better coordination to track and save
missing children.

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The
Home Minister has appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, GJM, to withdraw the
ongoing bandh in the Darjeeling Hills. He also asked the Union Home Secretary
to convene an official level meeting in the Home Ministry within a fortnight to
discuss all related issues. Rajnath Singh said, the withdrawal of bandh will
help create a conducive atmosphere for allowing normalcy to return to the area,
particularly in view of the festive season.

On
the call of GJM, an indefinite strike is currently on in the Darjeelingfor the over last three months.Eleven lives have been lost so far and
several injured since the strike.

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The Centre today launched Divyang Sarathi - an
accessible and comprehensive mobile App for easy information dissemination to
Divyangjans. Unique features of the App are audio notes embedded in it which
convert the written information into an audio file. The mobile application aims
at providing all relevant information pertaining to the Department of
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, including its various Acts, rules and
guidelines.

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The
first helicopter service to the world's second coldest inhabited place, Drass
was started from Srinagar today under Udan Scheme. The service will be helpful
for people during winter season and in cases of emergency. Emergency services
and common passenger services will be provided on priority and at subsidized
rates to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

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The Bombay High Court today granted bail to retired
Major Ramesh Upadhyay, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Accepting
Upadhyay's plea on the ground of parity -- since the other prime accused in the
case have been granted bail by the high court and the apex court -- the court
granted him bail against a personal bond of one lakh rupees.

Seven people were killed in a bomb blast on 29th
September, 2008 at Malegaon, a communally-sensitive textile town in Nashik
district of north Maharashtra.

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The rupee tumbled to a fresh multi-month low against
the dollar, today, while the domestic stock markets ended flat.

At the forex
market, the rupee plunged 35 paise, to a fresh six-month low of 65.45 against
the dollar. The rupee fell on heavy dollar demand by banks and importers, and
dollar strength against major global currencies. The stock markets fell for the
sixth straight session, with the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange closing
with a small loss of 27 points, at 31,600. The Sensex had lost almost 800
points in the previous five trading sessions. The Nifty at the National Stock
Exchange dropped just one point, to 9,872.And Brent crude oil futures stood near a 26-month high of 59.49 dollars
a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News.

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The United Nations said today that some 480,000
Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Myanmar on
25th of August, increasing its estimate by 45,000 in two days. A report by UN
agencies and international charities said the change was due in large part to
an estimated 35,000 Rohingya moving into two refugee camps who had not been
accounted for before.

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An
accountability court in Pakistan today decided to indict Nawaz Sharif on 2nd of
October in the Panama Papers Leak case. The court also issued fresh arrest
warrants against his children and the son-in-law. Sharif appeared before the
court, a day after he returned from London.

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Players
being sent off for misconduct is all set to become a reality in cricket with
the ICC's revamped playing rules, which will be effective in all series
starting Thursday or later. The significant changes also include a restriction
on the dimensions of the bat, and changes to the Decision Review System.